Precautionary systems demanded for PPC Komotini, Lavrio units

RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, is calling for precautionary measures at certain PPC gas-fueled power stations to protect the grid against any extreme gas supply sufficiency issues in the future.

The authority plans to revise production permits concerning main power utility PPC’s natural gas-fueled facilities in Komotini, northeastern Greece, and Lavrio, on the southeastern outskirts of Athens.

The revision, to apply for the utility’s Komotini and Lavrio IV and V units, will require these facilities to maintain independent natural gas reception systems. The cost of these installations will need to be covered by PPC as it is the owner of the aforementioned facilities, RAE has decided.

PPC will be expected to take steps that would ensure uninterrupted operation of these facilities at full capacity for a period of at last five days if natural gas supply is unexpectedly stopped.

As part of the plan, PPC will need to equip the Komotini and Lavrio units with flexibility systems enabling the use of alternative fuels, if needed. More specifically, these units will need to be ready to run on diesel within a few hours of any natural gas supply cut notification by DESFA, the natural gas grid operator.

The RAE plan includes a proposal for the installation of a natural gas storage facility at Lavrio V that would hold enough gas for uninterrupted, full capacity operations at this facility for a period of at least five days.